Departmental Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1024W, on official cars, for which Minister outside the Cabinet a car manufactured in the UK was purchased.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Minister of State for Trade and Investment is provided with an official car that has been manufactured within the UK.

Departmental Official Visits

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In financial year 2007-08, the Department for Transport (Central) and two of its agencies, HA and VCA, together recorded a total of 2,766 individual domestic flight sectors. These were purchased from central travel contracts at a combined cost of £384,671.75.
	In addition, DVLA purchased a further 1,832 domestic flights but the agency does not record the cost of such flights separately from other travel costs, and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's remaining four agencies, DSA, GCDA, MCA and VOSA do not record this information centrally, and could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.

Olympic Games 2012: Transport

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings  (a) she and  (b) Ministerial colleagues have had with (i) the Olympic Delivery Authority, (ii) Transport for London, (iii) the London Development Agency, (iv) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (v) train operating companies and (vi) the Minister for the Olympics to discuss transport plans for the 2012 Olympics in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State and her ministerial colleagues have had several meetings over the past three years with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Transport for London, Train Operating Companies and the Minister for the Olympics, together with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. There have been no ministerial meetings with the London Development Agency to discuss transport for the 2012 games to date. A more detailed breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much fish was procured by the House and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Nick Harvey: No records are available for the quantity and value of fish purchased by the House prior to 2007-08, but the records are available to provide details of the quantity offish consumed in each year since 2004-05; for the sake of consistency, the information for 2007-08 is therefore also presented in this format, as set out in the following table. No records are available for 2003-04.
	
		
			  Unit (kg) 
			   2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			  Fish 
			 Anchovy 88 158 140 82 
			 Black Bream 364 439 70 102 
			 Brill 0 60 30 30 
			 Cod (Icelandic preferred) 3,709 2,979 1,608 1,393 
			 Coley 32 3 0 429 
			 Eel 25 51 51 58 
			 Escolar 176 0 0 0 
			 Gurnard 42 0 0 0 
			 Haddock (Icelandic/North Sea) 3,285 3,281 1,803 1,319 
			 Hake 370 21 52 5 
			 Halibut 99 78 90 132 
			 Herring 65 185 215 17 
			 Herring (Kipper) 158 180 156 66 
			 Herring (Rollmop) 657 650 333 47 
			 Hoki 12 0 0 0 
			 Kingfish 218 241 36 0 
			 Mackerel (North Sea, Cornwall and South West) 355 1,475 1,311 470 
			 Monkfish (Channel, South West Coast, Scotland) 83 643 257 32 
			 Mullet, Grey 312 564 119 25 
			 Mullet, Red 326 275 7 37 
			 Octopus 43 14 22 21 
			 Pengasius 94 0 0 0 
			 Plaice 779 901 696 675 
			 Pollock 260 272 48 0 
			 Red Bream 249 8 0 255 
			 Salmon (Scottish farm SSPO approved) 6,566 6,927 8,181 4,899 
			 Sardines 228 299 177 5 
			 Sea Bream (EU farmed) 530 707 56 145 
			 Sea Bass (EU farmed) 1,063 808 721 570 
			 Skate 18 5 116 57 
			 Snapper 29 57 186 311 
			 Sole, Dover 6 72 54 131 
			 Sole, Lemon (English Channel, Irish Se$) 466 492 520 647 
			 Squid 143 220 502 582 
			 Swordfish 8 208 478 248 
			 Talapia 89 44 35 23 
			 Trout (English farmed) 602 1,196 652 401 
			 Tuna (line-caught, Yellowfin) 589 2,346 2,494 1,344 
			 Turbot 9 0 0 0 
			 Whitebait 5 15 0 0 
			 Whiting 22 0 0 0 
			  
			  Shellfish 
			 Clams 227 137 85 49 
			 Cockles 38 9 7 13 
			 Crab (whole) 35 243 51 16 
			 Crab Meat 237 283 292 124 
			 Lobster 58 104 129 48 
			 Mussels 296 63 232 729 
			 Oysters 7 0 0 60 
			 Prawns 1,811 1,937 2,346 1,933 
			 Scallops 235 65 162 111 
			 Scampi 134 103 160 127 
			 Shrimps, Brown 69 13 21 22 
		
	
	No records are kept of the amount and value of fish purchased that meet the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard for sustainable fishing. However, the current instructions issued to suppliers of fresh and frozen fish expressly stipulate that "all fish supplied must come from approved sustainable sources" and provide specific provenance requirements in the case of cod, haddock and other fish regarded as over-exploited by the Marine Stewardship Council or Marine Conservation Society. Furthermore, the House is currently in the process of letting a new contract for the supply of fish. Both the Marine Stewardship Council and the Seafish Industry Authority had input into the specification of requirements regarding environmental sustainability standards, and the relevant clauses were developed using the toolkit provided by DEFRA under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative.

Members: Allowances

Julian Lewis: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen North of 30 June 2005,  Official Report, column 546W, on Members' allowances, 
	(1)  how much time hon. Members will be given to examine documents relating to them which are due for disclosure to the public, prior to such disclosure; and whether documents to be scanned may be edited  (a) before and  (b) after scanning;
	(2)  what procedure will be adopted to ensure that when personal details are redacted from hon. Members' documents disclosed to the public by the House authorities the redacted details will be undetectable;
	(3)  whether all hard copy documents from which hon. Members' personal details have been redacted will be photocopied again before distribution to any member of the public in order to ensure the integrity of the redaction.

Nick Harvey: The information requested is as follows.
	(1) The exact timetable is still being finalised. However, it is anticipated that Members will have approximately one month to examine documents relating to them, which are due for disclosure to the public, prior to such disclosure. The documents will be edited after scanning.
	(2) The scanned documents will be edited using a proven and secure software product, which will remove pages and remove and replace text and images according to the editing scheme before the document is re-saved. The redacted material will not be detectable in the published information.
	(3) Only permanently redacted images of original documents will be made available to the public, rather than photocopies of original documents. The integrity of the redaction will be assured as follows:
	The original documents will be scanned and retained. At the end of the imaging and editing process there will be three electronic versions of the scanned documents:
	(1) An image of the entire original document before editing
	(2) An image of the document with the editing marked but with all underlying text readable
	(3) A final version for publication with all edited text removed from the image of the document.
	Images 1 and 2 will be retained for auditing purposes in the event of any query about the editing and redacting process. Image 3 will be the only version made available to the public.

Members: ICT

Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will undertake a review of  (a) the contract with Demon and  (b) the service offered to hon. Members by PICT.

Nick Harvey: The contract with Demon, the third party service provider, is subject to regular review meetings with Demon. Some service issues have already been addressed. For example, through collaborative working between BT and Demon disruption to broadband services due to constituency office moves has been reduced considerably. Further improvements are expected in the future. In the short term, the parliamentary ICT Directorate (PICT) and Demon are planning to upgrade some of the slower broadband services. A complete new broadband contract is expected to be procured within the next year.
	PICT services to Members were subject to review by the Administration Committee last year. The recommendations made in the Committee's report Information and Communication Technology Services for Members (HC 498) are reflected in PICT's forward plan of work relating to Members' IT many of which have now been delivered.

Equal Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent representations she has received on the gender pay gap in the  (a) private and  (b) public sectors.

Barbara Follett: In recent months I have received representations from hon. Members of the House of Commons and members of the public on the gender pay gap in the civil service; the public and private sectors, equal pay in local government and United Kingdom as a whole.
	Closing the pay gap between men and women is a high priority for this Government because it allows families to make real choices about how they live their lives. The pay gap perpetuates the unequal division of labour in the home and prevents fathers from playing a more active role in their children's early years and women fulfilling their opportunities to work. Closing the pay gap is now one of the indicators in the new Equalities Public Service Agreement. This will help to build on other practical measures we have introduced, such as giving the parents of young, or disabled, children and the carers of adults the right to request flexible working, and providing more access to child care.

Members: Electronic Surveillance

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister whether communications traffic data on telephone calls made  (a) by and  (b) to hon. Members is covered by the Wilson Doctrine.

Gordon Brown: I set out the position on the Wilson Doctrine on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W.

Children: Communication Skills

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure the effective development of speech and language skills in children; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Government recognise that speech and language skills are vital to all areas of a child's development. Together with the Department of Health we are taking a number of steps to ensure all children get the right support to develop these skills, including targeted or specialist support for children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties.
	On 8 July we welcomed the final report of the Bercow Review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). We support fully the report's call for action to raise the profile of speech, language and communications across Government, local agencies and wider society and to improve services for children and young people with SLCN. We will publish a plan for implementation of the hon. Member for Buckingham's (John Bercow) recommendations in the autumn. We have already asked Sir Jim Rose to examine how schools can better focus on speech, language and communication as part of his review of the primary curriculum.
	Alongside our response to the recommendations in the Bercow Report, on 8 July the Government announced a new £40 million early language programme, Every Child a Talker, which aims to improve the understanding of early language development among the early years workforce. It will provide practitioners with training and materials to enable them to support children's speaking and listening skills more effectively and free up time for practitioners to spend working with parents to enrich the home environment and networking with each other to share good practice. This will complement the materials delivered through the Inclusion Development Programme, which is focusing in its first year on SLCN, along with dyslexia.
	Sure Start Children's Centres (SSCC) play a key role in the positive promotion of children's speech and language development. In our Children's Centre Practice Guidance (December 2006) we said that speech, language and communication should be a priority for SSCCs in developing their services and that all staff should have the skills and understanding required for high-quality, responsive interaction with children.
	In addition, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), being introduced from September this year, recognises the importance of supporting and extending children's learning and competence in communicating, speaking and listening and providing opportunities for children to use these skills in a range of situations and for different purposes. One of the key roles for practitioners within the EYFS is to identify and respond to any particular difficulties in children's language development at an early stage.
	Early identification of SLCN is further promoted through the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP), led by the Department of Health. CHHP is the early intervention and prevention public health programme that lies at the heart of all universal services for children and families. It highlights a child's speech and language development as one of eight priority topics for health and development reviews of children.

Education: Assessments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what arrangements his Department has agreed with examination boards in England on the timely marking of GCSE and A level papers in 2008; and on what dates he expects schools to release  (a) GCSE and  (b) A level results to those sitting such examinations;
	(2)  what representations he has received from examination boards on progress in marking 2008 GCSE and A-level papers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The independent regulator, Ofqual, is responsible for monitoring the processes that are in place with awarding bodies for the timely marking of GCSE and A level papers. It has regular discussions with awarding bodies about progress. It is Ofqual's assessment that awarding bodies are on course to release A level results to candidates on 14 August and GCSE results on 21 August as planned.

Pre-school Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 280W, on pre-school education, which local authorities have childminding networks delivering the free entitlement.

Beverley Hughes: Figures from the 2008 Early Years Census show that 73 local authorities have childminding networks delivering the free entitlement offer. They are:
	Barnet
	Barnsley
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bedfordshire
	Bexley
	Birmingham
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Buckinghamshire
	Calderdale
	Cambridgeshire
	City of Kingston Upon Hull
	Cornwall
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Derbyshire
	Devon
	Dorset
	Dudley
	Durham
	East Riding and Yorkshire
	East Sussex
	Essex
	Gloucestershire
	Hampshire
	Herefordshire
	Hertfordshire
	Isles of Scilly
	Kent
	Kirklees
	Lancashire
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lincolnshire
	Manchester
	Medway
	Milton Keynes
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Somerset
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Poole
	Portsmouth
	Richmond Upon Thames
	Rochdale
	Rutland
	Sefton
	Sheffield
	Somerset
	South Gloucestershire
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Staffordshire
	Stockport
	Surrey
	Swindon
	Telford and Wrekin
	Thurrock
	Torbay
	Warwickshire
	West Berkshire
	West Sussex
	Wiltshire
	Worcestershire
	York

Climate Change

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the Breaking the Climate Deadlock group on climate change.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment (Hilary Benn) and myself have not received representations from the Breaking the Climate Deadlock group. However, DEFRA officials have recently met and maintain regular contact with the chief executive of the Climate Group, which has been working closely with Breaking the Climate Deadlock.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 245W, on waste disposal: domestic waste, when the research reports on  (a) bonfire smoke complaints and  (b) emissions of dioxins will be placed in the Library.

Joan Ruddock: I can confirm that the reports in question were deposited in the House Library on 30 January.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what types of critical infrastructure were categorised as at risk of flooding by the Environment Agency in each of the last five years; and how many of each type were categorised in each year;
	(2)  when the Environment Agency's list of critical infrastructure at risk of flooding was last updated; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency commissioned a major project in 2007 to map and improve its understanding of flood vulnerability at a national scale. The resulting database, which draws heavily on information held by other parties, provides a summary of vulnerability to flooding in each 100 metres of land in England and Wales.
	The following table sets out a summary of the Receptors Vulnerable to Flooding database. It shows the number of infrastructure assets, divided into sectors, that are at either a significant, moderate or low flood risk probability. Where the following definitions of flood risk probability are used:
	Significant: the chance of flooding in any year is greater than 1.3 per cent. (1 in 75)
	Moderate: the chance of flooding in any year is 1.3 per cent. (1 in 75) or less, but greater than 0.5 per cent. (1 in 200)
	Low: the chance of flooding in any year is 0.5 per cent. (1 in 200) or less.
	
		
			  Environment Agency study showing infrastructure overlain on flood risk maps (river and sea flood plains) 
			   Number of sites in flood zone (flood risk probability) 
			  Asset  Significant  (1 in 75)  Moderate  (1 in 75-200)  Low (1 in 200  or fewer)  Total in all three zones 
			 Water and sewerage 737 223 179 1,145 
			 Electricity (generation and distribution) 2,215 2,263 3,818 8,423 
			 Gas (works and distribution) 5 8 10 23 
			 Telephone exchanges 82 67 86 241 
			 Motorways (km) 139 104 132 382 
			 A roads (km) 884 553 809 2,278 
			 Railway lines (km) 1,470 750 948 3,213 
		
	
	As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) stated in the House on 25 June, electricity and water providers are responsible for ensuring continuity of supply. The electricity industry has identified just over 1,000 grid and primary sites which are in flood zones, and is working with the Environment Agency to see which of these might need additional protection. Every water company is reviewing how its critical assets may be at risk from flooding in order to prioritise investment plans. This information will be used as the basis of a planned nationwide programme to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure which Government will produce later this year.

Food: Wastes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to reduce food waste by  (a) producers,  (b) wholesalers,  (c) processors,  (d) retailers and  (e) consumers.

Joan Ruddock: The Government funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is working with stakeholders across the food sector—producers, wholesalers, processors, retailers and consumers to tackle the problem of food waste. For example:
	The Courtauld Commitment between WRAP and major food and drink retailers and manufacturers aims to reduce packaging waste and 'to identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste'.
	WRAP will also be running a programme jointly with Envirowise to help the industry reduce packaging and food waste in the grocery supply chain.
	WRAP provides an advisory service to local authorities on their waste collection arrangements, and has been involved in managing a series of food waste collection trials in 19 local authority areas. Where appropriate, WRAP is able to advise local authorities to consider opportunities for the co-collection of food waste from commercial premises with food waste from domestic properties.
	WRAP is running a consumer-facing campaign, "Love Food Hate Waste", to encourage behaviour change. The campaign is being delivered in partnership with stakeholders from across the food industry and retail sector, and organisations such as the Food Standards Agency and the women's institute. Its aim is to develop practical advice, to help people get the most from the food they buy, and to waste less of it.
	DEFRA is also working closely with the food industry to improve its environmental impact through the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS). The FISS targets a reduction in the food industry's own wastes of 15-20 per cent. by 2010. In responding to the targets outlined in the FISS Champion's Group on Waste report to Ministers last May, the Food and Drink Federation's "Five Fold Environmental Ambition/Making a real difference" document, set themselves a target to send zero waste to landfill by 2015.

Co-operative Party

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings  (a) she and  (b) Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of (i) the Co-operative Party and (ii) the Co-operative Group on eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: There have been no meetings between Ministers in Communities and Local Government and either the Co-operative Party or the Co-operative Group on eco-towns. In my role as Housing Minister I was invited by my hon. Friend for Huddersfield to speak about eco-towns at the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum's annual summer dinner, which was attended by their members, including representatives from the Co-operative Group. I was pleased to attend and speak at this event on 25 June 2008.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in her Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not compile ongoing records for this information. A spot check conducted overnight in one departmental headquarter building (Eland House) during July 2008 established that computer devices left on overnight when not in use represented 2.3 per cent. of total computer devices within that building.
	Departmental records for this information have not been compiled and do not exist for last five years.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff of her Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows the proportion of staff who did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Staff below senior civil service  Senior civil service 
			 2006-07 73 100 
			 2005-06 87 100 
		
	
	Pay settlements for 2008 have not yet been agreed. Staff below the SCS who received an overall 'exceeded' marking in their 2005-06 and 2005-06 performance report received a non-consolidated performance award, paid as a non-pensionable lump sum.
	The maximum bonus for SCS staff in each of the last two years was 20 per cent. of existing salary. No members of the SCS received a bonus of 20 per cent. of existing salary in these periods.
	In Communities and Local Government, bonus payments are made to those members of staff who are found to have made a significant contribution towards the achievement of the teams, and/or Departments objectives. Individuals are expected to show that they have exceeded the requirements set for the achievement of the objective and have demonstrated exemplary behaviour in doing so.
	Our senior civil service staff members are also assessed against a range of factors, such as:
	The achievement of their prime objective which focuses on the way in which they lead, manage and develop their staff;
	Degree to which business objectives are met;
	Delivery for Ministers;
	Demonstration of skills such as judgement, leadership and the PSG skills;
	Effective resource management.
	Details of bonuses paid in the Department's agencies are not held centrally.

Deprivation Indicators

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will rank  (a) the bottom 100 super output areas as measured by the index of multiple deprivation, showing the local authority in each case and  (b) the bottom 100 local authority wards as measures by the index.

John Healey: The following table lists the lowest ranked 100 (i.e. most deprived) super output areas by local authority.
	As the index is not produced at ward level I am unable to supply the list of the lowest ranked 100 local authority wards.
	
		
			  Lower super output area code  LA name  GOR name  Rank of IMD (where 1 is most deprived) 
			 E01006755 Liverpool North West 1 
			 E01005204 Manchester North West 2 
			 E01021988 Tendring East of England 3 
			 E01012721 Blackpool North West 4 
			 E01006778 Liverpool North West 5 
			 E01006467 Knowsley North West 6 
			 E01006559 Liverpool North West 7 
			 E01006561 Liverpool North West 8 
			 E01006468 Knowsley North West 9 
			 E01012673 Blackpool North West 10 
			 E01005484 Rochdale North West 11 
			 E01006676 Liverpool North West 12 
			 E01024858 Burnley North West 13 
			 E01008836 Sunderland North East 14 
			 E01005482 Rochdale North West 15 
			 E01009585 Coventry West Midlands 16 
			 E01005466 Rochdale North West 17 
			 E01009365 Birmingham West Midlands 18 
			 E01006647 Liverpool North West 19 
			 E01006469 Knowsley North West 20 
			 E01013137 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 21 
			 E01007532 Doncaster Humber 22 
			 E01012070 Middlesbrough North East 23 
			 E01006599 Liverpool North West 24 
			 E01006703 Liverpool North West 25 
			 EO1007122 Wirral North West 26 
			 E01006740 Liverpool North West 27 
			 E01008380 Newcastle upon Tyne North East 28 
			 EO1006646 Liverpool North West 29 
			 E01012720 Blackpool North West 30 
			 E01012041 Middlesbrough North East 31 
			 E01006699 Liverpool North West 32 
			 EO1006563 Liverpool North West 33 
			 E01006560 Liverpool North West 34 
			 E01012655 Blackburn with Darwen North West 35 
			 E01013818 Nottingham East Midlands 36 
			 E01006756 Liverpool North West 37 
			 E01010606 Bradford Yorkshire and The Humber 38 
			 E01005067 Manchester North West 39 
			 EO1005658 Salford North West 40 
			 E01012875 Kingston upon Hull, City of Yorkshire and The Humber 41 
			 E01006442 Knowsley North West 42 
			 E01007127 Wirral North West 43 
			 E01012678 Blackpool North West 44 
			 E01006674 Liverpool North West 45 
			 EO1006630 Liverpool North West 46 
			 EO1005568 Rochdale North West 47 
			 E01024908 Burnley North West 48 
			 E01006777 Liverpool North West 49 
			 E01005256 Manchester North West 50 
			 E01006732 Liverpool North West 51 
			 E01005655 Salford North West 52 
			 EO1006679 Liverpool North West 53 
			 E01028276 Mansfield East Midlands 54 
			 E01006704 Liverpool North West 55 
			 E01005350 Oldham North West 56 
			 E01005196 Manchester North West 57 
			 E01006540 Liverpool North West 58 
			 E01013139 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 59 
			 E01010485 Wolverhampton West Midlands 60 
			 E01013136 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 61 
			 E01024877 Burnley North West 62 
			 E01005228 Manchester North West 63 
			 E01006515 Liverpool North West and The 64 
			 E01010617 Bradford Yorkshire Humber 65 
			 E01009488 Birmingham West Midlands 66 
			 E01025041 Hyndburn North West 67 
			 E01008291 Newcastle upon Tyne North East 68 
			 E01012266 Stockton-on-Tees North East 69 
			 E01020909 Wear Valley North East 70 
			 E01012069 Middlesbrough North East 71 
			 E01010823 Bradford Yorkshire and The Humber 72 
			 E01012114 Redcar and Cleveland North East 73 
			 E01005096 Manchester North West 74 
			 E01009358 Birmingham West Midlands 75 
			 E01006779 Liverpool North West 76 
			 E01006677 Liverpool North West 77 
			 E01009476 Birmingham West Midlands 78 
			 E01006558 Liverpool North West 79 
			 E01012897 Kingston upon Hull, City Yorkshire and the Humber 80 
			 E01008011 Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber 81 
			 EO1006598 Liverpool North West 82 
			 EO1005099 Manchester North West 83 
			 E01005203 Manchester North West 84 
			 E01006760 Liverpool North West 85 
			 E01009379 Birmingham West Midlands 86 
			 E01025286 Preston North West 87 
			 E01006417 Knowsley North West 88 
			 E01005667 Salford North West 89 
			 E01005612 Salford North West 90 
			 E01007132 Wirral North West 91 
			 E01008214 Gateshead North East 92 
			 E01015842 Southend-on-Sea East of England 93 
			 EO1005205 Manchester North West 94 
			 E01007133 Wirral North West 95 
			 E01006470 Knowsley North West 96 
			 E01007128 Wirral North West 97 
			 E01015155 Plymouth South West 98 
			 E01006746 Liverpool North West 99 
			 E01005613 Salford North West 100

Eco-towns: North East Elsenham

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the proposed eco-town development at North East Elsenham on the surrounding economies in East Hertfordshire, with particular reference to the economy of Bishop's Stortford;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely locations for employment of residents of the proposed eco-town development at North East Elsenham if the development proceeds.

Caroline Flint: We have published the initial assessments of all the proposed locations, including Elsenham on our website, and we are further reviewing the issues raised there, including impacts on growth and regeneration of the surrounding areas for these locations.
	We have assessed Elsenham, and all the eco-town proposals against a criteria relating to jobs and the outcomes we expect to see. This includes developing a clear strategy to maximise employment opportunities and enabling links to existing clusters of employment. We will also be consulting on employment and the other criteria in the draft planning policy statement on eco-towns.

Eco-towns: Public Participation

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what geographical criteria were used when selecting interviewees for the Andrew Irving Associates YouGov survey on eco-towns, published by her Department on 30 June; what information was provided to these interviewees before their interview; and if she will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the commissioning brief for and  (b) the results of the survey.

Caroline Flint: With regards to the geographical criteria used in selecting interviewees for the recent YouGov survey on eco-towns, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on Monday 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column. 1355W.
	No information was provided to respondents beforehand as the survey sought to ascertain their current knowledge and opinions. The omnibus survey was commissioned verbally so we cannot provide a copy of the commissioning brief but the results of the survey will be placed in the Library.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the impact assessment for display energy certificates.

Caroline Flint: The impact assessment for display energy certificates forms part of the 'Regulatory Impact Assessment Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Article 7-10', published in March 2007. This was deposited in the Library on 23 March 2007.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made towards the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan's objectives for the capital development programme of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation in respect of  (a) the Innogy site acquisition,  (b) the Carpet Right site in Rainham,  (c) the upgrade of Prescot Lock,  (d) the Barking town buy-backs and  (e) the Wildspace Conservation Park visitor centre.

Caroline Flint: The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's Corporate Plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11 was published on 7 May 2008. The Corporate Plan sets out how they will investment some £237 million to take forward the strategic regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and Barking-Havering Riverside areas.
	Progress on the individual developments is as follows:
	 (a) Innogy site acquisition (spend to date £18.85 million)
	This 26 acre site at Dagenham Dock was acquired by the corporation in May 2008 for around £18 million and will form part of the London Sustainable Industries Park which is being developed jointly with the London Development Agency. The site has been acquired to provide premises for Environmental Technology Industries some of whom are being relocated to allow other projects in the London Thames Gateway to proceed as planned. The corporation are already in negotiation with a number of businesses and the first deals are expected to be agreed later this year.
	The first occupier of the Sustainable Industries Park, Closed Loop Recycling, the UK's first food grade plastics recycling facility, opened on 27 June. The plant will divert a significant amount of waste from landfill.
	 (b) Carpetr ight site in Rainham (spend to date £15.87  m illion )
	The seven acre site at New Road, Rainham was acquired by the corporation in March 2007 subject to a leaseback to Carpetright plc until May 2008. The deal helped facilitate the development of a new state of the art distribution centre for Carpetright in Thurrock and has released seven acres of land adjacent for new housing and jobs adjacent to Rainham Village centre.
	Agents have been appointed to seek a private sector partner to progress the project and the opportunity will be advertised later this month.
	In the meantime a contract to progress the demolition of most of the buildings on the site has been let and terms have been agreed to let another of the buildings to Havering College to establish a Construction Skills Training Centre. This will be a temporary facility while the corporation works with Havering College to develop a new 80,000 square foot campus on an adjoining site. This is planned to open in 2011.
	 (c) Upgrade of Prescott Lock (spend to date £5  m illion )
	The corporation has contributed £5 million towards the construction of water control structures in Prescott Channel and Three Mills Wall River. The project will achieve tidal exclusion and allow waterborne freight delivering construction materials to the Olympic Park. The project is located in a deprived area with the potential for future housing and other developments and will result in a number of environmental, social, leisure and health benefits through the creation of a useable waterway park, an increase in boat journeys, use of cycle paths and walkways. British Waterways is the delivery agent for the project and partners include the corporation, DFT and TfL.
	The project started on site in March 2007 and the planned completion date is now February 2009. This is slightly behind schedule due to land contamination issues and the discovery of an unexploded bomb on 2 June 2008 but the project is now on track to provide significant benefits to the local community by removing heavy goods vehicles from the road network and creating an improved environment for existing and new waterside homes and businesses.
	 (d) Canning Town buy-backs (spend to date £8.8 million)—there is no buy back programme  in Barking Town.
	The investment by the corporation of £9.9 million for the Canning Town buy-backs has helped to achieve vacant possession of most of the site ear-marked for the first phase of the Canning Town centre re-development. Only three properties now remain outstanding and negotiations with the owners are ongoing.
	Demolition work is progressing in parallel to clear the site. A panel of developers has now been appointed who will be invited to tender for the site in September 2008 with a start on site planned for summer 2010.
	 (e) Wildspace Conservation Park visitor centre (spend to date £1.9 million on related access and improvement projects)
	Wildspace is being developed as a flagship green space for the Thames Gateway on 1,500 acres in Havering and Thurrock. The corporation are working in partnership with a number of organisations including the local authorities the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Veolia to deliver a number of projects across the park. Projects completed to date include the Purfleet Environment and Visitor Centre (part funded Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and managed by the RSPB); The Rainham to Purfleet path and cycleway; Discovery Zones; and improved bus access routes to Ferry Lane. The Wildspace Project Board meet on 8 July to agree a detailed programme of work for the next five years.

France: Foreign Relations

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to strengthen relations with France prior to its assuming the EU presidency, as referred to in his Department's most recent departmental report; and what effect those steps have had on the UK's influence over how EU aid is distributed.

Gareth Thomas: The Department For International Development has been working with other Whitehall departments to strengthen our relationships with France on development. I and my ministerial colleagues have had several meetings with French counterparts, as have my senior officials. The UK-France summit provided evidence of the close working relationship between the UK and France on development, with the communiqué noting shared commitments in a number of areas.
	At an EU level, we worked closely with the French Government to agree at the June European Council an agenda for action on the millennium development goals, which demonstrates the EU's leadership in accelerating progress on poverty reduction. The UK will continue to liaise closely with France and other member states on the level of Community assistance to partner countries in discussions in the Council.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who appointed the members of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact.

Douglas Alexander: Members of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact were appointed by Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development.
	Selection complied with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken towards delivering the millennium development goals call to action in 2008.

Gareth Thomas: The Department For International Development (DFID) leads the Government's involvement in the MDG Call to Action campaign. The campaign aims to encourage action by a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, NGOs, faith groups and other parts of civil society to accelerate progress on the MDGs and help make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty.
	We have worked with other Government Departments to ensure that summits of the EU, and G8 discuss MDG issues. We are also actively supporting preparation by the UN of their High Level Event on 25 September, which will be attended by governments and other key stakeholders. We hope that this meeting will be a focal point for adding further momentum to efforts to achieve the MDGs.
	In May this year the UK Government co-hosted an event in London along with the United Development Programme (UNDP) on the Business Call to Action (BCTA). At the meeting more than a dozen global companies announced new initiatives which use their unique business skills to solve problems on the ground and to transform people's lives. Since then DFID has been working with the World Economic Forum, UNDP and the International Business Leaders Forum as part of the preparations for a UN-hosted Private Sector Meeting in September.

Credit Cards: Fraud

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted of fraud involving credit card skimming in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There is no specific offence relating to credit card skimming, however people may be prosecuted under various sections of the 1968, and 1978 Theft Acts. Data covering offences under the relevant sections of these acts for the number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales, for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Frauds occurring after 15 January 2007 may be prosecuted under various sections of the Fraud Act 2006. Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the following table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts for certain offences relating to fraud, in England and Wales, 2002 - 06( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3) 
			   Found guilty 
			 2002 10,868 
			 2003 10,018 
			 2004 9,072 
			 2005 8,001 
			 2006 6,484 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description: Theft Act 1968 Sec 15 Obtaining property by deception Theft Act 1968 Sec 15A as added by Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 S.1 Obtaining a money transfer by deception Theft Act 1968 Sec 16 (l)(2)(b) and (c) Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception (except railway frauds) Theft Act 1978 Sees 1 and 2 Railway Frauds Theft Act 1978 Sec 1 Obtaining services by deception (except railway frauds) Theft Act 1978 Sec 2 Evasion of liability by deception (except railway frauds)  Source: CJEAU—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Electoral Register

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of those eligible to vote who are registered as electors in  (a) Luton South and  (b) the UK; and what steps he is taking to increase levels of voter registration.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any estimate of the proportion of those eligible to vote, who are registered as electors in Luton, South and the UK. However, as of the 1 December 2007 the parliamentary registration figures for Luton, South is 70,221 and the combined figure for local government electors in the Luton borough are 138,409. I am aware that the decrease in electoral registration rates in Luton, South may be due to a change in the local population, which is made up of student accommodation and large properties converted into dwellings of multiple occupancy.
	The Office for National Statistics has recently published electoral registration rates for the UK following the 2007 annual canvass. These confirm that the levels of voter registration in parliamentary elections increased by 307,669 to 45,082,854 and the levels of voter registration in local government elections increased by 463,340 to 45,920,503.
	The Government have taken a number of steps to increase voter registration rates. Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 placed a new duty on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to maintain the electoral register, including sending the annual canvass form more than once, making house to house enquiries and inspecting records that they are permitted to inspect. It is for the ERO to decide on the best steps to use in conjunction with their local knowledge to ensure that requirements for making contact with persons and maintaining the register are complied with.
	To support such activities we have made £2.5 million available each financial year under our Participation Fund, which allows EROs to apply for additional funding to assist them in promoting electoral awareness within their areas.
	The Act also includes a provision for the Electoral Commission to introduce new performance standards for EROs. The Electoral Commission is currently developing these standards and the final set of standards will be published during July 2008. A copy of these standards will be laid before the House and the information obtained from local authorities as a consequence will give us a better understanding of the actions taken to increase registration.

Hunting Act: Prosecutions

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions have  (a) been brought and  (b) resulted in convictions under the Hunting Act 2004; and whether any convictions have been successfully appealed against.

Maria Eagle: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	The Hunting Act 2004 came into force on 18 February 2005
	The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2005 3 3 
			 2006 11 5 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statute and corresponding offence description: Hunting Act 2004 SS.1 and 6 Hunting a wild mammal with a dog Hunting Act 2004 SS.3(1) and 6 Knowingly permitting land to be entered or used in the course of hunting a wild mammal with dogs Hunting Act 2004 SS.3(2) and 6 Knowingly permitting a dog to be used in the course of hunting a wild mammal Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (a) and 6 Participating in a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (b) and 6 Attending a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (c) and 6 Knowingly facilitating a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (d) and 6 Permitting land to be used for the purpose of a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 S.5(2) Permitting etc a dog to participate in a hare coursing event  Source: CJEAU—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Recovery of Costs

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance he issues to the judiciary on the amount of costs that can be recovered by a litigant from an opponent ordered to pay costs in litigation.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) does not issue guidance to the judiciary on the amount of costs that can be recovered by a litigant from an opponent ordered to pay costs in litigation.

Energy: Disconnections

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2008,  Official Report, column 949W, on energy disconnections, if he will provide a breakdown of the disconnections data given by constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) does not collect data about gas and electricity disconnections by constituency. The disconnection data is collected into a separate region for England, Scotland and Wales, or, by individual energy supplier. Data by supplier was included in the answer of 2 July. In the eight quarters to quarter 3 2007, the last period for which data has been published, the number of disconnections by region were:
	
		
			  Electricity 
			   Q4 2005  Q1 2006  Q2 2006  Q3 2006  Q4 2006  Q1 2007  Q2 2007  Q3 2007 
			 England 141 193 199 293 358 428 435 609 
			 Scotland 3 3 21 51 74 79 115 47 
			 Wales 24 17 6 18 25 37 32 16 
			 GB 168 213 226 362 457 544 582 672 
		
	
	
		
			  Gas 
			   Q4 2005  Q1 2006  Q2 2006  Q3 2006  Q4 2006  Q1 2007  Q2 2007  Q3 2007 
			 England 632 659 768 976 952 1210 1311 1318 
			 Scotland 27 20 58 97 151 122 171 101 
			 Wales 39 44 39 39 56 58 59 43 
			 GB 698 723 865 1,112 1,159 1,390 1,541 1,462

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grant funding is available to businesses in Leeds under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Low Carbon Building programme, with a budget of £86 million, has allocated £30 million to 6,300 projects, including £6.5 million to 154 projects in the private sector. However, funding streams for business are now closed to new applicants. As a result of projects supported under previous funding rounds, we are working closely with the Carbon Trust on a number of private sector projects to raise awareness of the potential for combining microgeneration with energy efficiency to develop low carbon buildings.
	By opting to generate their own renewable and low carbon energy businesses can hep tackle climate change by moving from being passive users of energy to active production. This can increase self-sufficiency and security of supply in the face of great uncertainty over energy prices. We are looking again at what incentives we can offer to businesses who wish to generate their own renewable energy in the Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation document published in June details of which can be found at:
	http://renewableconsultation.berr.gov.uk/
	Wider Government activities to support businesses with an interest in low carbon technologies, include for example, the renewables obligation and the Carbon Trust provides site surveys to organisations looking to reduce their energy demand. Further details are available at:
	www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/sme_toolkit.htm

Oil: Production

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will hold discussions with Ministerial colleagues on the production of contingency plans for each Department to cover  (a) the eventuality of global oil production peaking and  (b) continued high oil prices.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government constantly monitor risks to the UK economy, including from energy-related developments, as detailed in the Energy White Paper (May 2007) and the Long-term Opportunities and Challenges for the UK (November 2006). In addition, the UK's policies, as outlined in the Energy White Paper, in promoting open and competitive markets, increasing energy efficiency, investing in low carbon technologies and the use of alternative energy sources such as renewables will reduce the risks to the UK of any potential future declines in global oil and gas production. Given these initiatives and policies, the government does not feel the need to hold contingency plans specifically for peak oil
	The Government test the robustness of its policies against a number of oil price scenarios. These oil price assumptions are published for the period till 2030 and are disseminated throughout Whitehall and where relevant are used by Government Departments in their analytical work. In order to capture some of the uncertainty around future oil prices there are four illustrative scenarios used: low, central, high and high-high. Further details are available at the following links:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/projections/recent/page26391.html
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46071.pdf

Social Fuel Tariff

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many consumers there are on a social fuel tariff from each of the six top energy suppliers, broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Data on social fuel tariffs broken down by constituency does not exist. Ofgem published an aggregated review of suppliers' voluntary initiatives in August 2007 and updated the figures in October 2007.

Adult Education: EC Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the UK's progress towards achieving the EU benchmark on adult participation in lifelong learning.

David Lammy: The UK has surpassed the EU benchmark on adult participation in lifelong learning. The EU benchmark is for 12.5 per cent. of the working age population of the EU to be participating in education and training by 2010. In the UK, 26.8 per cent. of the working age population were participating in education and training in 2006 when the most recent data was collected for this benchmark, which is an increase from 20.5 per cent. in 2000.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many working days have been lost due to sickness among employees for which his Department and its predecessor were responsible for each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Cabinet Office has recently introduced a revised format for reporting sickness absence statistics across the Civil Service. The new format was introduced at the end of March 2008 and the reports now cover the period up to 31 March 2008. The figure for annual average working days lost due to sickness in the Department up to that date is 7.9 per staff member. The annual number of days lost is 10,464.18.
	The Department was formed as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. Sickness absence data for the Department's predecessors, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Trade and Industry, for 2006-07, 2005 and 2004, including the average number of days taken as sick leave is published on the Civil Service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	along with data for other departments and agencies.
	Earlier sickness data is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

European Space Agency: Small Businesses

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely effects of European Space Agency projects on levels of employment in small and medium-sized businesses in  (a) England,  (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and  (c) Leeds Metropolitan District.

Ian Pearson: There are no estimates available relating solely to small and medium-sized business employment on European Space Agency projects. However, in the "Size and Health of the UK Space Industry" survey published by BNSC in 2006, analysis indicated that 16,200 people were employed in the space sector in the UK in 2004-05. Of these, 15,830 were employed in England with 620 in Yorkshire and Humberside. There is no data available relating specifically to the Leeds metropolitan district.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of 17 and 18 year olds who took A-levels in 2007  (a) applied to and  (b) have enrolled in a higher education institution.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The proportion of A-level students who applied to university is not available.
	 (b) Detailed information on higher education enrolments is not yet available for 2007/08. The proportion of maintained school pupils who took A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a UK higher education institution in 2004/05 or 2005/06, was 70.7 per cent.
	If we consider only those pupils who "gained 2 or more" GCE A-levels in 2003/04, 79.5 per cent. entered a UK higher education institution in 2004/05 or 2005/06.
	These figures are obtained using linked National Pupil Database and Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record datasets. Additional students may have applied for higher education courses in 2006/07 or 2007/08 but linked data is not yet available which allows us to track the above students into higher education later than 2005/06.

Higher Education: Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the average age of a lecturer was  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average length of time was that a lecturer had spent in the profession  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Bill Rammell: According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Staff Record, the average age of Academic Lecturers and Senior Lecturers and Researchers who are teaching only or teaching and research was 44 in the 1997/98 academic year and 45 in the 2006/07 academic year. The age of academic staff is as at the 31 of August and the average age is calculated on known ages only. Figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	Information showing the average length of time that a lecturer had spent in the profession is not available. Lecturers are likely to change institutions throughout their career and the HESA Staff Record is unable to follow the path of a lecturer throughout their career.

Overseas Students

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and  (b) others on the contribution that those from overseas studying at universities in England and Wales make to the national economy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the income which accrued to each university from the teaching and supervision of overseas students in each of the last three years, broken down by country of origin.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Chancellor and others on the benefits of international students to the United Kingdom economy. "Global Value", a study published by the British Council in September 2007, estimated that the total value of international higher education students to the UK economy as being over £5.6 billion a year. In 2006/07, the latest year for which data is available, there were 351,470 non-UK domiciled students studying in the UK, of which 308,990 were at higher education institutions in England and Wales.
	Tables showing the requested information about  (a) country of domicile for students at each higher education institution in England and Wales and  (b) the income received by each higher education institution in respect of tuition fees are being sent to the hon. Member separately. A copy of each table has been placed in the Libraries.

Students: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent on  (a) maintenance grants,  (b) student loans, and  (c) teaching costs for students at English universities who did not complete their studies in the most recent 12 months, broken down by (i) UK-domiciled undergraduates, (ii) EU-domiciled undergraduates, (iii) international undergraduates, (iv) UK-domiciled postgraduates, (v) EU-domiciled postgraduates and (vi) international postgraduates.

Bill Rammell: Student retention rates at higher education institutions in this country compare very well internationally. The UK ranks 5(th) in the OECD for first degree completion rates, out of 23 countries who report data in this area. The Government are totally committed to providing opportunities for all people to achieve their potential and to maximise their talent. We have significantly increased the financial support for students; and working with Higher Education Institutions and other partners improved guidance and other support to students. A university education is now open to more students than ever before.
	
		
			  Grants and allowances and student loans made in academic year 2006/07 to students who Students Loans Company were subsequently notified had withdrawn from their course 
			   Domicile  Students  Amount paid (£) 
			 Grants and allowances(1) English 17,100 26,171,000 
			 
			  Student loans
			 Fees and Maintenance English 28,100 80,394,000 
			 Tuition fees only EU 300 371,000 
			 (1) Includes maintenance grants and other grants and allowances but excludes tuition fee grants. This information is not available for maintenance grants separately. Grants and allowances paid to students who withdrew from their courses represent 4 per cent. of all grants and allowances paid. Loans made to students who withdrew represent 3 per cent. of loans paid.  Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Postgraduate students are not eligible for student loans and grants, except for those on courses of Initial Teacher Training who are eligible for the undergraduate package. Information is not available separately for postgraduate Initial Teacher Training students. EU students are not eligible for maintenance grants or maintenance loans, but can apply for tuition fee loans. Students from outside the EU are not eligible for student maintenance grants or loans. Fee loans are paid direct to the Institution if a student is in attendance three months from the start of the course. Students who withdraw from higher education are liable to begin repaying their tuition and maintenance loans in the April after they withdraw, if their income is above £15,000 per year. Where a student who withdraws has been in receipt of grants, the local authority has the discretion to make a reassessment and reclaim any overpayment based on the number of days the student was undertaking the course from the first day of the academic year to the date of withdrawal.
	Teaching costs are around £4,000 per full-time student per year. This information is not available by domicile of student or level separately. Higher Education Institutions do not receive HEFCE funding for international students. They are able to charge these students the full cost of delivery.

Prostitution: Decriminalisation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has evaluated on the effects of decriminalisation of prostitution in other countries.

Vernon Coaker: As part of the Government's review of measures to tackle the demand for prostitution we have commissioned research comparing policy approaches adopted in other jurisdictions, including New Zealand which has decriminalised prostitution. Our findings will be published as part of the outcome of this review, in the autumn.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what IT contracts the Law Officers' Department and its agency have entered into in the last two years.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's Office, Serious Fraud Office and Revenue Customs and Prosecutions office have entered into contracts with Sungard Public Services.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department have entered into 86 IT contracts:
	22 contracts for the support and maintenance of hardware;
	43 contracts for the support and maintenance of software; and
	21 contracts for the support and maintenance of communication services.
	The Crown Prosecution Service has entered into five IT contracts (HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are also included under these contracts):
	1 contract for the support of an HR and Payroll system;
	1 contract for a web-based recruitment system; and
	3 contracts under the Office for Government Commerce Framework Agreement for the provision of and electronic ordering system, an online tendering system and an intranet application.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

James Plaskitt: The euro changeover plan for The Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies received its last full update in September 2004. We are currently updating this plan, and expect it to be completed later this year.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new claims for housing benefit were received in each London local authority in the most recent year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of new housing benefit claims received by London local authorities in 2007-08 
			   Thousand 
			 Barking 4,976 
			 Barnet 8,635 
			 Bexley 3,474 
			 Brent 8,008 
			 Bromley 3,422 
			 Camden 4,944 
			 City of London 406 
			 Croydon 4,612 
			 Ealing 8,877 
			 Enfield 7,487 
			 Greenwich 5,720 
			 Hackney 10,048 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,437 
			 Haringey 12,875 
			 Harrow 2,055 
			 Havering 2,968 
			 Hillingdon 6,599 
			 Hounslow 5,951 
			 Islington 8,287 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,151 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,822 
			 Lambeth 11,435 
			 Lewisham 10,458 
			 Merton 4,430 
			 Newham 7,624 
			 Red bridge 5,831 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,653 
			 Southwark 6,941 
			 Sutton 3,390 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,138 
			 Waltham Forest 6,934 
			 Wandsworth 5,174 
			 Westminster 4,254 
			  Notes: 1. The total number of new housing benefit claims includes successful, unsuccessful, defective and withdraw claims. 2. The information is reported performance from local authorities.

Social Security Benefits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 7-8W, on social security benefits, what assumptions about  (a) employment levels and  (b) levels of jobseeker's allowance claims underpinned the estimates for 2009-10 of on-flows on to (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) employment support allowance and (iii) income support on grounds of incapacity.

James Plaskitt: Forecasts of on-flows to incapacity benefit, employment support allowance and income support on the grounds of incapacity incorporate, at the time of production, the latest available evidence on past trends, announced future policies and operational changes. There is no explicit link made to assumptions about the employment level and the level of jobseeker's allowance claims although the level of inflows (onto incapacity benefit, employment support allowance and income support on grounds of incapacity) are broadly consistent with Treasury planning assumptions about the level of jobseeker's allowance claims.

Government Departments: Assets

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance  (a) the Office for Government Commerce and  (b) his Department has provided on the use of eBay to sell surplus government stock or assets.

Angela Eagle: OGC has not issued guidance on the use of eBay to dispose of surplus stock or assets. In disposing of assets, Departments are required to seek value for money. The OGC website has a link to the Disposal Services Agency's website; Departments can set up an arrangement for DSA to dispose of assets on their behalf. In addition, OGC has produced guidance on the disposal of surplus property which is also available on its website.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Denis Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credits enquiries his Department received through its 0800 and 0845 numbers in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC operates two 0845 helplines to deal with tax credits inquiries: the tax credits helpline for the general public and an intermediaries helpline. Advisers working on other HMRC helplines may also receive a small number of tax credits inquiries, but these are incidental to their main work, and the number is not recorded.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the then Paymaster General on 14 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2137W, on 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1857W and on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 418W, in which the number of calls received by the tax credits helpline in each month in the last three years to April 2007 has been provided. The following table brings this information up to date for 2007-08.
	
		
			  Tax credits helpline 
			   Number of calls received( 1)  to the nearest thousand 
			 May 2007 2,510 
			 June 2007 2,664 
			 July 2007 3,149 
			 August 2907 2,129 
			 September 2007 2,025 
			 October 2007 1,703 
			 November 2007 1,563 
			 December 2007 1,039 
			 January 2008 1,830 
			 February 2008 1,600 
			 March 2008 1,445 
			 (1 )Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser 
		
	
	In addition the following table gives details of the number of calls received by the intermediaries helpline in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Tax credits intermediaries service 
			   Number of calls received to the nearest thousand 
			 2005-06 50 
			 2006-07 59 
			 2007-08 56

Afghanistan: Asylum

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for International Development to the right hon. Member for Richmond, (Yorks) of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 596-7W, on Afghanistan: asylum, on how many occasions security for humanitarian agencies delivering aid has been provided by  (a) the International Security Assistance Force and  (b) other forces since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Since January 2008, there are no recorded instances in which UK military personnel have provided security for humanitarian agencies delivering aid in Afghanistan, nor are there any recorded instances in which such assistance has been requested.
	We do not hold detailed records on the extent to which the other members of the International Security Assistance Force have been engaged in these activities.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of ammunition were discharged in Helmand province in each roulement since Operation Herrick IV, broken down by type.

Des Browne: The amount of ammunition used by UK forces in each Operation Herrick roulement since Herrick 4 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Type of nature  Herrick 4 (August 2006 to October 2006)  Herrick 5 (October 2006 to April 2007)  Herrick 6 (April 2007 to October 2007)  Herrick 7 (October 2007 onwards)  Herrick 8 (April 2008 onwards) 
			 7.62mm all natures 210,000 520,000 1,100,000 1,036,000 493,000 
			 5.56mm all natures 235,000 615,000 1,170,000 1,020,000 590,300 
			 0.5 inch all natures 25,000 90,000 185,000 153,000 59,200 
			 12.7mm all natures 2,400 350 0 1,005 840 
			 9mm all natures 10,000 69,000 14,000 57,000 45,000 
			 0.338 200 1,700 4,900 485 272 
			 12 bore shotgun all natures 5 45 660 71 216 
			 105mm all natures 8,600 4,300 12,100 12,430 1,645 
			 30mm Armoured Fighting Vehicle rounds 1,200 5,000 3,600 2,800 0 
			 30mm Attack Helicopter rounds 29,800 21,000 26,500 7,700 15,350 
			  Note: Where applicable, figures have been rounded either to the nearest 10,100 or 1,000.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average  (a) start up and  (b) running cost of a Department of Community Mental Health is.

Derek Twigg: The MOD has 15 departments of community mental health (DCMHs) in the UK with additional satellite centres in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar. Responsibility for their individual management is shared between the single service commands.
	DCMHs came into being in April 2004, prior to 2004 community-based mental health services were provided by what were known as departments of community psychiatry (DCPs). The conversion of DCPs to DCMHs involved providing uplifts of funding to the single services for the creation of specific staff posts and improvements to IT resources. The amount of funding provided to each of the single services varied depending on their needs, however in financial year 2004-05 it totalled approximately £7.5 million.
	Each service funds its respective DCMHs differently, with funding provision coming from a number of areas. Estimated annual costs for an average Army DCMH are approximately £543,000, this covers staff pay and other associated costs, such as allowances, training, equipment and line rental.
	Due to the number of budgets to which costs would be attributable any detailed study of DCMH finances would incur disproportionate costs.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on Defence Training Review project financing of levels of demand from residential developers for his Department's land at  (a) Aborfield and  (b) Borden.

Bob Ainsworth: The Defence Training Review (DTR) Package 1 Project plans to improve and rationalise phase 2 and phase 3 technical training. As a consequence of this rationalisation both Bordon and Arborfield Garrisons will be released for sale from 2012 onwards.
	MOD has sought recent independent valuation advice for both sites as part of financial appraisals for DTR which uses prudent levels of values in its assessments.

Departmental Car Allowances

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Civilian employees who use their private vehicle for official duty may claim one of two mileage rates, the Standard Rate of Motor Mileage Allowance (SRMMA) or where there are more economic methods of travel, the Private Travel Rate of Motor Mileage Allowance (PTRMMA). Rates are:
	 SRMMA:
	40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles
	25p per mile for travel more than 10,000 miles
	 PTRMMA:
	25p per mile
	The SRMMA is based on HM Revenue and Customs Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) and the PTRMMA on the AMAP for travel more than 10,000 miles.
	There are several travel allowances which can be claimed by service personnel.
	The UK Private Car Rate (PCR) is more usually claimed for duty journeys (i.e. journeys undertaken for reasons such as meetings or official visits). It is payable for journeys where there is no spare seat available in a service or private motor vehicle already scheduled to undertake a journey in the required direction and, although public transport could be used without undue detriment to the interests of the service, the use of a private motor vehicle is considered reasonable. The rate is 28.3p per mile.
	The UK Official Duty Rate (ODR), which is authorised only very occasionally for duty journeys where the use of a private motor vehicle is essential and there is no cheaper alternative, is the same as the SRMMA for civilians and is also based on HM Revenue and Customs Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments AMAPs.
	Service personnel who travel daily between the accommodation where they and their place of duty may claim Home to Duty (HTD) (Public) if they live in public accommodation or HTD (Private) if they live in private accommodation. The allowance is based on the distance travelled up to a maximum of 50 miles per single journey, less a personal contribution of one mile per single journey for HTD (Public) and nine miles per single journey for HTD (Private). The rates are paid on a daily basis and vary according to the number of miles travelled. For example the daily HTD (Public) rate claimable for a distance of 30 miles each way from the place of duty is £9.94.

Departmental Equipment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer on 19 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1363-64W, on departmental equipment, how many of the computers which have been stolen since 1998 contained information with a classification of  (a) none,  (b) restricted,  (c) confidential,  (d) secret and  (e) top secret;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 58W, on departmental computers, how many of the computers which were stolen in 2007 had a classification of  (a) no classification,  (b) restricted,  (c) confidential,  (d) secret and  (e) top secret.

Bob Ainsworth: As a result of the theft of the Royal Navy laptop, the Ministry of Defence has initiated an investigation into the details of all lost or stolen computers since 2003.
	I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and arrange for a copy of my reply to be placed in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions on 25 January 2008, (Official Report, columns 2246-47W) about departmental computers.
	As a result of the investigation into details of electronic media lost/stolen since 2003, which I announced on 31 March 2008, (Official Report, column 517W), data on the number of laptops and desktop computers centrally reported as stolen from the Department since 2003 have been revised. Figures prior to 2003 were not centrally recorded and were limited in nature and are therefore not presented in this reply. The information is set out in the following table which identifies the highest Protective Marking ("classification") of material to which the systems were accredited to hold.
	
		
			   Unclassified /None  Restricted  Confidential  Secret  Top Secret  Not  d etermined  Total 
			  2003
			 Laptops 20 39 0 1 3 73 136 
			 Desktops 7 2 0 0 0 36 45 
			 
			  2004
			 Laptops 74 86 0 2 0 110 272 
			 Desktops 12 5 0 0 0 20 37 
			 
			  2005
			 Laptops 12 34 0 1 0 83 130 
			 Desktops 3 3 0 0 0 19 25 
			 
			  2006
			 Laptops 32 58 0 2 0 63 155 
			 Desktops 2 3 0 1 0 22 28 
			 
			  2007
			 Laptops 13 35 0 0 0 53 101 
			 Desktops 1 9 0 0 0 3 13 
			 
			  2008 (Up to 25 June 08)
			 Laptops 15 19 0 0 0 0 34 
			 Desktops 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 
		
	
	In some instances it has not been possible to determine the highest Protective Marking of material to which the systems were accredited to hold as it was not established when the incident was reported and subsequent clarification has proved inconclusive (these are classified as 'Not Determined' in the table).
	Our investigation may not have identified all instances where a higher Protective Marking of material was held on a lower classification of system. Attempting to confirm these would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. Processes have been amended to establish the highest Protective Marking of material held on systems as part of our data capture and investigation of such incidents.

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Derek Twigg: Over the past two years the Ministry of Defence has undertaken a series of actions to reduce the amount of waste it produces and sends to landfill. These include: conducting a series of site waste audits to determine the processes that generate waste; implementing site waste minimisation schemes; and commissioning a Waste Management Improvement Project. This examined waste management activities carried out throughout the defence estate and how these could be improved to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first instance and to increase the amount of waste that remained to recycling and recovery operations. The recommendations from this report are in the process of being actioned.
	The Ministry of Defence is also working closely with not-for-profit organisations such as WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) to increase the amount of construction waste re-used on site and recycled off-site, and NISP (National Industrial Symbiosis Programme) which looks to create industrial synergies with local businesses and organisations so that the Department's waste is used as another's resource.
	The MOD Specialist Training School at RAF Halton also runs an accredited three-day waste management course which teaches individual site environmental advisors the practical aspects of waste management with an emphasis on waste reduction and recovery.

EU Defence Policy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK  (a) military units and  (b) vessels have taken part in EU military operations.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1894W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	The UK is also contributing a total of four military officers to the current ESDP mission to Chad/Central African Republic (CAR): two officers in the operational HQ at Mont Valerien in Paris and two officers in the force HQ in Chad/CAR. These staff officers are being provided under standing EU headquarters augmentation procedures.

South Korea: Defence

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has held with his South Korean counterpart on strengthening the defence procurement relationship between the UK and the government of South Korea.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary met his South Korean counterpart Minister Lee, Sang Hee in Singapore on 1 June in the margins of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit. Strengthening the defence procurement relationship between the UK and the government of South Korea was not discussed.

Abortion: Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many times the 2007 Abortion Statistics have been downloaded from his Department's website.
	(2)  how many hard copies of the 2007 Abortion Statistics have been provided by his Department free of charge; to whom; at what cost to the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Between 19 and 30 June there have been 783 downloads of the PDF of "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007" and 764 downloads of the tables in Excel format.
	Further to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 515W, paper copies of the statistical bulletin were made available in the Vote Office as he requested. 50 copies were provided and no estimate has been made of the cost of doing so. No other hard copies of the bulletin have been distributed.

Commission for Social Care Inspection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) title,  (b) date of issue and  (c) consultation period was of each document issued for consultation by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each year since its creation; if he will place copies of each in the Library; how members of the public may obtain copies; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	Copies of the published consultations have been placed in the Library.
	Members of the public can also obtain copies of all consultations free of charge by ordering from CSCL Details for how to order can be obtained from the CSCI website at:
	www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/how_to_order_free_printed_pub.aspx
	In addition, copies of all consultations can be downloaded from the CSCI website as follows.
	
		
			  CSCI consultations 
			  Date of issue  Title  Consultation period  Location 
			 1 July 2004 Code of Practice in Relation to Confidential Information 1 July 2004 -15 October 2004 www.csci.gov.uk/system_pages/data_protection.aspx 
			 1 September 2004 An Independent Voice (Social Services Complaints Procedure) 1 September 2004 - 20 December 2004 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/an_independent_voice.aspx 
			 1 November 2004 CSCI's draft corporate plan 2005-08 1 November 2004 -28 February 2004 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/draft_corporate_plan.aspx 
			 1 November 2004 Inspecting for Better Lives consultation 1 November 2004 -28 January 2005 www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/publications/consultation_ibl.aspx 
			 1 February 2005 Consultation on getting rid of the terminal illness (71) category in care homes 1 February 2005 -31 March 2005 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/terminal_illness_consultation.aspx 
			 1 February 2005 Race Equality Scheme 1 February 2005 -30 April 2005 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=892&key= 
			 7 February 2006 Regulatory charges for council fostering and adoption services 7 February 2006 -14 March 2006 www.csci.org.uk/professional/about_csci/publications/view.aspx?csci=1257 
			 10 May 2006 Equalities and Diversity Strategy 10 May 2006 -16 June 2006 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=1427&key= 
			 1 May 2006 Give us your views on the Key Lines of Regulatory Assessment (KLORA) 1 May 2006 -31 July 2006 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/klora.aspx 
			 28 July 2006 A new outcomes framework for performance assessment for adult social care 2006-07: consultation document 28 July 2006 -6 October 2006 www.csci.gov.uk/pdf/paf_consultation_010806.pdf 
			 14 August 2006 Inspecting for Better Lives: A Quality Future 14 August 2006 -14 November 2006 www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/news/new_quality_rating_for_care_se.aspx 
			 20 September 2006 Disability Equality Scheme 20 September 2006 - 10 November 2006 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=1841&key= 
			 28 June 2007 How we describe outcomes for people using services 1 June 2007 -31July 2007 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=2088 
			 8 February 2007 Gender Equality Scheme 8 February 2007 - March 2007 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=2041&key= 
			 9 June 2008 A Consultation on changes for the performance assessment of adult social care in 2008-09 9 June 2008 - 8 August 2008 www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=8004 
			  Source:  CSCI

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Ben Bradshaw: During April 2007 to March 2008 a total of 784 domestic air flights were undertaken by the Department and its agency's at a cost of £147,135.
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and the "Civil Service Management Code" respectively.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's overall target for relocating posts out of London and the south-east is 1,030 posts by March 2010. This covers the Department, its agencies and arms length bodies. Against this target, 870 posts have already been relocated.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The current special advisers arrived on 27 June 2007, they have claimed no expenses since their arrival.
	We have no record of expenses for the previous special advisers.
	Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the Department's staff handbook and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. Copies of the code are available in the Library and are also available on the civil service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp

Health Services: North East

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quality incentive payments have been made in respect of each practice in the  (a) Newcastle upon Tyne Primary Care Trust,  (b) North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and  (c) Northumberland Care Trust areas.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not collected centrally.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs, manufactured by which companies, his Department is considering for use in the programme to vaccinate girls against cervical cancer.

Dawn Primarolo: Cervarix will be the vaccine used for the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination Programme and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons he decided to procure a two-type vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme in schools;
	(2)  for what reasons he decided not to procure a quadrivalent vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme in schools;
	(3)  what account was taken in procuring a vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme of the effectiveness of such vaccines in providing protection against genital warts; and what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the incidence of genital warts.

Dawn Primarolo: The aim of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine programme is to prevent cervical cancer in women and the best way to do this is to vaccinate girls/young women.
	Routine HPV vaccine will be introduced for girls aged 12 to 13 years from September this year. A catch-up programme will start from September 2009 and will run for two years. Girls aged 16 to 18 years will be immunised in 2009-10 and girls aged 15 to 17 years in 2010-11.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) and Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 2 July 2008,  Official Report, column 943W.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure robust data collection systems are in place during an influenza pandemic to capture data on  (a) attack rate,  (b) disease pattern and severity and  (c) mortality as referred to on page 8 of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to develop a flexible system to enable influenza antiviral treatment to be targeted dynamically, as referred to on page 8 of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008; what size of stockpile would make implementation of household prophylaxis practical; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when his Department plans to have stockpiled influenza antivirals sufficient for 50 to 60 per cent. of the population, as referred to in paragraph 2.4.2(d) of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of individuals infected with a pandemic strain of influenza who would go on to become clinical cases over the course of a pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Wherever possible surveillance and information gathering during a pandemic will be based on existing data collection mechanisms. The attack rate will be estimated by modellers, principally those at the Health Protection Agency, through clinical data emerging from the United Kingdom and other affected countries. Disease pattern and severity will also be based on this information and that from national seasonal influenza surveillance systems, coordinated through the Health Protection Agency and mortality will be monitored through death registration data from the Office of National Statistics. This data is already monitored routinely as part of national seasonal influenza surveillance.
	Work is under way to ensure that information obtained from all these sources will be robust during a pandemic and appropriate to the needs of modellers and others who will use them.
	The proportion of individuals infected with a pandemic strain of influenza who would go on to become clinical cases over the course of a pandemic is estimated to be between 50 per cent. and 66 per cent. Evidence from seasonal influenza and the 1957 pandemic suggest that of these between 50 per cent. and 67 per cent. will show clinical symptoms. This is consistent with a worst case clinical attack rate of around 50 per cent.
	The increase in the antiviral stockpile from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. will ensure treatment is available for all symptomatic patients under the maximum clinical attack rate assumption of 50 per cent. There is thus much less chance that the dynamic targeting referred to will be needed. Flexibility in antiviral distribution via the Flu Line will be achieved by adjusting the clinical algorithm based on the clinical information obtained as the pandemic unfolds, as well as stock management and policy decisions. Plans for separate distribution channels are being developed to assist the hard to reach groups and others for whom the Flu Line will not be suited.
	As stated "in the National Framework for responding to an influenza pandemic", it is possible to use antiviral medicines as a preventative measure (prophylaxis), copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library. The adoption of a policy of household prophylaxis is still being considered by the Department.
	The Department hopes that the antiviral stockpile will be procured during the latter part of 2008 and early 2009.

Lasers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) research he has undertaken and  (b) evidence he has used to compile the draft partial impact assessment of deregulating Class 3B and 4 lasers and intense lights sources in the consultation paper Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000. Regulations and National Minimum Standards.

Ben Bradshaw: The partial impact assessment (IA) provided a number of arguments and figures in support of our consultation proposals. Some of the arguments and figures were based on working assumptions and these were made clear in the document; other figures were based on evidence and research and these were fully referenced in the IA. It was expected that the consultation would test the working assumptions and would bring to light further research and evidence, which could be fully taken into account when drawing up the final IA.

NHS: Land

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the downturn in the property market on the financial position of NHS trusts which have factored in profits from the sale of surplus land into their budgets;
	(2)  what requirements NHS trusts have to notify his Department of surplus land sales; and what consent regimes exist to authorise the disposal of surplus land;
	(3)  what guidance his Department has provided to NHS trusts on the disposal of surplus land.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service trusts develop and manage their own capital financing plans, to which the proceeds from property disposals may make a contribution. Such transactions are subject to the conditions of the property market at that time. In general, a more significant contribution is made from the cash they receive in their income for the depreciation charge in their accounts, through loans from the Department and, under certain circumstances, allocations of public dividend capital. It is for NHS trusts to manage any changes in value of proceeds from asset disposals as part of their capital and overall financial planning
	The Department operates a system of delegated limits for capital investment and for property transactions for NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. A copy of the Delegated Limits for Capital Investment guidance has been placed in the Library.
	Guidance NHS organisations on all land and property transactions, including the disposal of surplus land or buildings, is given in the Department's publication, Health Building Note 00-08: "Estatecode", copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	Under this guidance, where property has been identified as surplus to a particular NHS organisation, it should be offered to other local trusts to determine whether the asset could be re-used by them for the provision of healthcare services, Government Departments and the local authority. This policy accords with the Government's requirement to make better use of surplus public sector land.
	NHS foundation trusts are authorised and regulated by Monitor, the independent regulator, which provides guidance to these trust on property transactions.

NHS: Procurement

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas primary care trust commissioning is immature, as referred to on page 10 of his Department's document, Developing the NHS Performance Regime, published on 4 June 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: Commissioning for local health services in England is the core responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs). It is a complex process with responsibilities ranging from assessing population needs and prioritising health outcomes to procuring products and services, and managing service providers. As such, commissioners are required to possess a wide range of skills, including robust analysis, effective stakeholder engagement and communication, financial management, strategic planning and performance management skills. The joint Department of Health and Prime Minister's Deliver Unit review of commissioning capabilities in May 2007 suggested that some PCTs perform better in some areas than others. However, there is not yet any comprehensive evidence about commissioning strengths and weaknesses nationally.
	In June this year, a national commissioning assurance system was launched to hold commissioners to account through assessing their performance and rewarding development. PCTs will be assessed against commissioning skill sets, or competencies, organisational governance and health outcomes. By publishing and assessing against the competencies that make commissioning for health services world class, a clearer national picture will emerge. PCTs will also be better able to understand where their commissioning strengths and weaknesses lie and will be incentivised to access support and development resources in order to improve.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by his Department to determine whether a regulatory impact assessment should be undertaken on primary legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Regulatory impact assessments no longer exist as they have been superseded by impact assessments. The Department follows the criteria contained in guidance provided by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Impact assessments are required:
	for all forms of intervention (including primary or secondary legislation as well as codes of practice or guidance) where the department or regulator considers that the effect will be to increase or decrease costs for business, the public sector, third sector organisations, regulators or consumers;
	when proposals would not yield an overall net change in costs and benefits but some kind of redistribution, or when there is a change in administrative costs; and
	when seeking collective agreement for United Kingdom negotiating positions on European Union proposals, and also when submitting bids for primary legislation to the Legislative Programme Cabinet Committee.
	However, a proportionate approach should be used. If the cost of a proposal is below £5 million only a developmental/option stage impact assessment is necessary.
	Further information is available on BERR website at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/bre/policy/scrutinising-new-regulations/preparing-impact-assessments/page44077.html

Vaccination

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which manufacturers have supplied vaccines to the NHS; over what period of time each vaccine was supplied; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Vaccine  Manufacturer/brand name  Start  Finish 
			 Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (APV) Lederle—APV May 1994 August 2000 
			 Anthrax The Health Protection Agency—Anthrax September 2004 Ongoing 
			 Bacilllus Calmette Guerin (BCG) Evans vaccine—BCG (Intradermal) 1986 August 2002 
			 BCG Evans vaccine—BCG (Percutaneous) 1992 June 2005 
			 BCG Staten Serum Institut—BCG (Intradermal) December 2002 Ongoing 
			 Diphtheria and Tetanus (DT) Aventis Pasteur MSD—different dosages—DT 1992 July 2003 
			 DT Chiron Vaccines—DT April 2000 January 2004 
			 DT Medeva—DT 1992 March 1999 
			 Diphtheria (D) Medeva—Diphtheria April 1993 June 2000 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) GlaxoSmithKline—Infanrix October 2001 October 2004 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus and Wholecell Pertussis (DTwP) Aventis Pasteur MSD—DTP 1994 June 2000 
			 DTwP Chiron Behring—DTP 1998 January 2003 
			 DTwP Medeva—Trviax AD 1992 November 1998 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and Inactivated Polio (DTaP/IPV) Aventis Pasteur MSD—Tetravax April 2001 July 2001 
			 DTaP/IPV GlaxoSmithKline—Infanrix IPV February 2005 Ongoing 
			 DTaP/IPV Sanofi Pasteur MSD—Repevax August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and Inactivated Polio with Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV+Hib) GlaxoSmithKline—Infanrix/IPV+Hib March 2006 Ongoing 
			 DTaP/IPV+Hib Sanofi Pasteur MSD—Pediacel August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Aventis Pasteur MSD—ACT Hib 1992 April 2002 
			 Hib GlaxoSmithKline—Hiberix June 2001 July 2006 
			 Hib Lederle—HibTITER 1992 2001 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b/Meningococcal Group C Conjugate (Hib/Men C) GlaxoSmithKline—Menitorix July 2007 Ongoing 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b with Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP/Hib) GlaxoSmithKline—Infanrix Hib December 1999 February 2003 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b with Diphtheria, Tetanus and Wholecell Pertussis (DTwP/Hib) Aventis Pasteur MSD—ACTHib DTP April 1996 September 2004 
			 DTwP/Hib SmithKlineBeecham—Trivax/Hib May 1997 October 1999 
			 Inactivated Polio (IPV) Aventis Pasteur MSD—Inactivated polio 1984 October 2004 
			 Low Dose Diphtheria (d) Berna Biotech—Low Dose Diphtheria October 1995 August 2003 
			 Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) GlaxoSmithKline—Priorix May 1998 Ongoing 
			 MMR Pasteur Merieux—Immravax 1989-90 1992-93 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSD—MMR II April 1998 Ongoing 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSD—MMR II (American MMR) May 2005 July 2005 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSD—Triplovax (German MMR) May 2005 June 2005 
			 MMR SmithKlineBeecham—Pluserix 1988-89 1992-93 
			 Meningoccocal Group C Conjugate (MenC) Baxter Healthcare—Neisvac August 2000 January 2007 
			 MenC Chiron vaccines—Menjugate March 2000 March 2005 
			 MenC Novartis vaccines—Menjugate Kit April 2006 Ongoing 
			 MenC Wyeth vaccines—Meningitec October 1999 September 2007 
			 Oral Polio (OPV) Evans Vaccines—Oral Polio December 1998 October 2000 
			 OPV GlaxoSmithKline—Oral polio April 2001 October 2004 
			 OPV SmithKilneBeecham—Oral Polio April 1997 March 2001 
			 Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) Wyeth—Prevenar April 2006 Ongoing 
			 Rabies Rabies vaccine has been purchased for the NHS since 1979 from either Sanofi Pasteur MSD or Novartis Vaccines 1979 Ongoing 
			 Rubella Evans—Almevax 1992 1997 
			 Rubella SmithKlineBeecham—Ervevax 1992 2003 
			 Tetanus and Low Dose Diphtheria (Td) Aventis Pasteur MSD—Diftavax September 1994 November 2006 
			 Tetanus and Low Dose Diphtheria with Inactivated Polio (Td/IPV) Sanofi Pasteur MSD—Revaxis August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) (diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB)) Chiron vaccines—10 unit 1986 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccines—100 unit 1992 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccines—1,000 unit 1992 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccines—Heaf test 1986 November 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Statens Serum Institut—SS2 July 2005 Ongoing 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Statens Serum Institut—SSI0 May 2005 Ongoing

Vaccination: Drugs

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions there are on the provision of the drugs  (a) pedaciel,  (b) repevax,  (c) infanrix-IPV and  (d) menitorix to GP surgeries; whether any vaccination clinics have not taken place as a result of restrictions in supply; whether any alternative arrangements have been made for vaccination; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Pedaciel, Repevax, Infanrix-IPV and Menitorix have been put on an allocation system. The allocation system aims to ensure general practitioner contractors receive doses based on their historic vaccine requirements so every child should be immunised with no need to delay immunisations. Where surgeries are concerned that they may not have sufficient stocks for a clinic they have contacted the Department's vaccine supply team who are working to ensure additional doses have been made available.